The Choir Practice
The Choir Practice
By Chris Whibbs

Hey, look, another all encompassing, multi-person band from Canada! I guess we’re just so friendly that we can’t say no to anyone who wants to join a band. Combining equal parts of the retro indie pop of other Vancouver-based bands with a more female-centric version of the Polyphonic Spree, the Choir Practice by their very name find their infectious glory in the fun of gang singing. The brainchild of Coco Culbertson, who has done time in the Gay and AC Newman, the joy in this debut is dependent on your tolerance of many voices singing in near-mint harmony about various topics. As for the other instruments, well, there’s some drums and backing guitar but it’s obviously the mass singing that’s key. Sometimes it plods a bit, as on “Pretty,” but at other times it’s pretty awesome, like on the super-catchy “Red Fox,” which also incorporates a faster tempo and handclaps. The overall problem comes from the fact that I really, really wanted to absolutely love this record. I’m a sucker for overlapping voices and exuberant shout-outs but this effort never really takes off. It’s fun, cute (sometimes a bit too much so) and full of lovely moments but the gimmick remains a gimmick. Once more from the top? (Mint)
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Alex Delivery - Star Destroyer
All Smiles - Ten Readings of a Warning
The Almost - Southern Weather
Alsace Lorraine - Dark One
Anberlin - Cities
Ataris - Welcome the Night
Battles - Mirrored
Benni Hemm Hemm - Kajak
Billy Holmes - A Magic Wombat
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
The Bloggers - The Bloggers
Bob Wiseman - Themes and Variations
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Strange Form of Life
BrakesBrakesBrakes - The Beatific Visions
The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon
The Cinematics - A Strange Education
Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards
The Colour - Between Earth & Sky
Copilots - Copilots
Craig Smith - Not Sure Not Sure
Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey
Dog Day - Night Group
Electrelane - No Shouts No Calls
Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday
Fields - Everything Last Winter
Fox Jaws - Goodbye Doris
Grails - Burning Off Impurities
Hail Social - Modern Love & Death
Handsome Furs - Plague Park
The Huxtables - A Touch of Wonder
Ian Hunter - Shrunken Heads
Idlewild - Make Another World
Jade McNelis - All the Fables
Kevin Hume - The Truth About Ants and Aphids
Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts - From the Photographs
Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
Mary Timony Band - The Shapes We Make
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
The Monks - Demo Tapes 1965
Mother Mother - Touch Up
Mus - La Vida
Mystery Jets - ZooTime
Neins Circa - Sleeves And Wigs
Numbers & Figures - The Parable of the Broken Window
The One AM Radio - This Too Shall Pass
Palomar - All Things, Forests
Part Chimp - Cup
Patients - Get Well Soon
Peace - On Earth
People for Audio - The New Ancients
The Phonemes - There’s Something We’ve Been Meaning to Do
Princess Ugly - We Knew It Was Perfect
Protokoll - Protokoll EP
Ral Partha Vogelbacher - Shrill Falcons
Rich Aucoin - Personal Publication
Silver Daggers - New High & Ord
Stars / Various - Do You Trust Your Friends?
Travis - The Boy With No Name
The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters
Various Artists - A Tribute to Joni MItchell
Various Artists - Bridging the Distance: A Portland, OR Covers Compilation
The Veils - Nux Vomica
The Veils - Nux Vomica
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
Wheat - Everyday I Said a Prayer for Kathy and Made a One Inch Square
White Cowbell Oklahoma - Casa Diablo
Willy Mason - If The Ocean Gets Rough
Yacht - I Believe in You. Your Magic is Real
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